Automatic piano.



No, 876,488. l EATENTED JAN. 14? ma M. CLARK. AUTQMATIG PIANOAPPLICATION FILED EEB. 8. 1906` ETL/@R 7*",

MELVlLlJE CLARK, OF CHICAGO, lLLlNOlb.l

AUTOMATIC PIANO.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. i4, isos.

`Application filed February 8, 1906. Serial No. 300.037.

Io au w/Lom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELviLLE CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of lilinois, haveinvented new and useful lm `novements in Automatic Pianos, of lwhichtlie following vis a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The pur ose of this invention is to provide in a gran piano automaticplaying devices which will not materially affect the proportions of thepiano case nor comprise any obtrusive additions tothe outlines orappearance of the instrument as a whole, and which may be'readilyapplied withthe minimum changes to grand `pianos of customaryconstruction and form of case.

It consistsof the features of construction and disposition of theseveral parts set out in the claims. In the drawings t---Figure l is asideelevation of a grand piano embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is abottom 'plan ofjthe same. Fig. 3 is a fore-and-aft section at 'the line3-3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a partly scctional front elevation of a ductboard at the line 4-4 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical forcand-aftsection. of the tracker -frame and rolls showing a modified form ofconstruction. Fig. 6 is a detail section of the foundation board at theline 6 6 on Fig. 2.

I employ apneumatic action of familiar ty e shown in former patents,comprising the exhaust or rare'fied air chamber, l, containing theprimary pneuinatics, 2; and; upon this air chamber there are mountedmotor neumatics, 3, 3, 3, arranged in a plurality of anks or levels,three being shown in-the drawings, communicating with the chamber, 1,and with the outer air by passages and ports controlled by the valves,4, 4, 4, connected with the primary pncumaties respectively. Thisconstruction and the mode of its o )eration being thoroughly familiarneed not e further described. This pneumatic action is mounted on theunder side of the case of a grand or square piano in such position thatthe tracker-pins or fingers 5,5, 5, of the motor pneuinatics, 3, 3, 3,stand in right-and-left line or lines projecting upward through thebottom board or key'` table, 6, of the piano case. This .bottom board isfrequently formed in strips slightly separated so as to avoid anyclosing orbuckling which' might result from shrinking and swelling of fthe wood; and l may take advantage, as in the construction shown, of oneoftliese rightand-left rifts, 8, or intervals between the strips whichform the bottom boardfor admission of the striker pins up. through thebottom board, as described, the iifts being selected ormade at theposition necessary to admit the pinsor fingers to the under side of themanual keys, 7 back of their fnlcrums, so that an upward stroke of thepinsis, equivalent to a down stroke of the fingers of the player on theupper exposed portion of the keys. For guiding the tracker pins orfingers, agui'de bar,.9, is preferably mounted in 'the rift or slot, 8,and apertured to afford guide bearings for the tracker pins, as seen inFig. 3.

The exhaust bellows, 1.0, is most conveniently and therefore preferablymounted on the under part 'of the piano frame rearward df the pneumaticaction above described;

on the under'part of the piano frame, and preferably side by side,directly in the rear of the usual position of the piano pedal snpportingframe or harp, having their length extending under the narrow rearendpor tion. of the instrument when the form is that of a grand piano, asshown. Both the neX- haust bellows and the pumpers are mounted on afoundation board, 12, in which` the necessary passages for communicationof the puinpers and exhaust bellows are formed, and on which thenecessary valves for controlling these passages are mounted, -theexhaust bellows being preferably above said fore-and-aft tim ers vof thepiano frame. The puinpers are preferably mounted on the under sideofsaid board. The relation and action ofthe pumpcrs with 'respect tothevalves to both pumpers and exhaust bellows are familiar and need not befurther described.

action may and the puinpers,.i1, 11, are likewise located The' exhaustchamber, 1, ofthe pneumatic board and oec'uiying space. between theexhaust bellows, and of the passages and Y frame, as indicated by bolts,13, 13, and brackets, 13a, so securing it.

The trackenboard, 15, controller-sheeto erating rolls, 16 and 17, andany desirable form of motor mechanism (not shown in the drawing) aremounted upon a frame or supporting dev ice which consists of cheeks, 1Q,19, rigidly connected by a 'back-board, 20, and a bottom board, 21, forcarrying the various stops (not shown) by lwhich the tempo andexpression are regulated. This entire frame is mounted for movement backand forward between a position under the key table and' a position atthe forward side of the same, so that it may be dra-wn out from underthe table into position for reaeh ing and manipulating the stops andobserving the controlling sheet so far as necessary to enable theperformer to suitably use the "tops When not in use the entire frame anparts carried thereby may be moved back under the key table so as not tobe obtrusively noticed and so as not to obtrude at all beyond the forwaid line of the piano case.- A preferred construction for mounting thisframe so as to permit its movement as described comprises a pair ofslides, 25, 25, which are hung for sliding in slide-ways, 26, 26, on theunder side of the key table, and are rigidly connected by a bar, 27, so

as to slide fore and aft as a unitary structure.

The tracker-bar frame (carrying the controllersheet rolls and motor) isconnected at opposite ends to the two slides respectively by apair ofparallel links, 28, 28, at each end, so that the entire tracker framemay swing on the links from a. position forward of the manual breast ofthe piano down first a little forward while the links are approachinghorizontal position, and then further down rearward as the links swingbelow hori- Zont'al )osition until. the tracker frame'lis sto )pediagainst the forward edges of toc sli es, 25, the upper edge of theint-losing case of the entire swinging structure being at that positionbelow the level of the under surface of the key table. The slides arethen pushedrearward, carrying the tracker frame underneath the keytable.

For securing the structure comprising the tracker frame case andcontents 'at 4elevated position in front of the manual breast there areprovided hooks, 29V, 29, rigid on a rockshaft, 30, mounted under thetracker frame, the hooks being adapted to engage studs, 31, on the upperlinks of each pair of links, 2S. rlhe tracker'board has a rearwardlyextended lip portion, 15, through the surface of which the trackerductsopen. A duct-board, 32, is mounted on the under side of the kc)r tablehaving its ducts, 33, connected atitheir rear ends-conveniently byflexible tubes, 34,-with the ducts, 4a, leading to the primarypneumatics respectively. 'lhese ducts, 4, extend from the pneumatlcslinthe blocks,

`2, on which the pneumatics respectively are mounted Within the chamber,1, and thence in the bottom, 1b, of said chamber, which is motorpneumatics andis joined at'its forward edge to an upwardly-extendingfront duct board, 1, located directly in front of the syst-ern oftracker pins, 5, the ducts, 4", openine at the upper end of said frontduet boardlor connection with the flexible tubes, 34. 'In order that theducts, 34, may pass vby the block, 60, 'from which the pedal-supuporting harp or frame, 61, is hung, the ducts, Il, are converged in thefront duct board, l, into two groups, seen in Fig. Li, with an intervalbetween the groups corresponding to the space occupied by the block, 60,and in order' to be thuslconverged, the ducts are also arranged in twoplanes, alternate ducts the orward group, as indicated in Fig. The ductboard, 32, has its ducts, 33, in three groups, and the ducts, 34, arestill further converged from the two groups of the board, 1, to thethree grens of the duct board, as seen in Fig. 2. Tie devices andmethods shown for converging the ductsy from the full right-and-leftcomv ass 'of the primary pneumatic system to t e reduced compass of thetracker board is familiar in the art and requires no more particular eX-planation. 'The ducts, 33, open at their for ward ends through the undersurface of the duct board, 32, in position to register with the trackerducts which open upwardly, through the upper surface of suchtrackerboard lip, 15a. The hooks, 29, have their 'faces forengagementwith the studs, 3l. shaped' so as to slightly draw or crowdthe entire tracker frame upward to press the lip,

duct-hoard, 32, the meetin surfaces of the two lboards being preferabilycovered with suitable material, as thin felt, ,35, vto make the junctionair-tight and thev registration of the duct mouths effective inrendering each air"passage ycontinuous and separate from every other.Alspring, 36, coiled about the rock-shaft, 30, reacts to rockthe shaftin proper direction for swinging the hooks into 'engavement with thestuds; and 'the hooks are slbpcsnosed for encounter with the studs, sothat they are crowded back when thel tracker 'frame is lifted and snapinto engage ment at the highest position of thelatter.v A thumb-lever,37, on thefroc -sliaft serves to release the hooks when the frame is tobe lowered and swung back out of use.

The'pumpersanay be` operated by any convenient mechanical connectionswith pedals, 50, 50, as, for example, byacable, 38, extending from eachpedal over a guide pulley, 39, mounted on a bracket arm, 40, rigid withthe cross bar, 27, which connects the slides,

25 thence rearward for connection with one bein in a rear group andalternate ducts in extended forward as a duct board underthe' let l5, ofthe tracker-board closely against the4 arm, 4l, of e hell-erank lleverWhose other l arm, 42, is suitably Connected to the moving and a rearduet board, 15h, whieh vorrev detaeliahly Seeured to 'tliei'iuidei .sideof the tary s 'uetiii'e to the piano.

`having its duets adapted to register with. the

`hunter-board ifi'eme and music and take-up adapted to register' withthe .duets 'ol'` the spends to the rear extension, 15a, o'l tholti'aekei" board in the form shown in Fig. 2, y flexible tuhes,A 15y,connecting the corresponding duets oi' the adjustable tracker hoard andsaid duet board, ll.

I claims K 1. 4ln an' autometie square oi' grand piano, in combinationwith the piano frame,A a' foundation hoard mounted on ythe under side ofthe frame; an exhaust bolloiiis, pompei' bellows and a A pneumaticaetion all mou ntod on the "oundation hoard, said board together sii-idparts mounted thereon being adapted to be detaehably secured as a unilii an antoine-tie square orgra'nd piano, ini combination with the pianoframe, an aiitoniatie operatingA mechanism com prising an exhaiistairchamber and exhausting dea pi'ieuinatie action comprising priiiiai'y andmotor pneumaties, sii-id exhaustair chamher and exhausting devices andpneumatic action being i'letaehiiibly mounted upon the under side of the'piano freine; a duet board keyI tahle and. means Aeoniieetii'ig itsduets respectively' Vith 'the primary pneuiiiaties, in, combination witha ti'ael-:erboii,i'd trame and nuisie and take-up rolls and operatingmech ani-siii mounted. thereon, the tracker board duets oi' the duethoard, and means for supporting said tracker traine for inoven'ieutii'oiii sueii. registering position rearward to e position.underneath-th i key table.

ln an autoinalie square or grand piano, in rombination with the pianoironie, an automatic operating mechanism consisting ol` a foundationhoard; an exhaust air ehanilier und exhausting devices mounted on'saidho l; a primary pneumatic ehainher and motor pnt-:nineties mountedthereon ex tei'ior to said Chamber, being also secured to the foundationboard, wherebyy the parts deserihed m ey be detaehably secured. as auniH tary struetui'e to the underside of the'piano frame; a duetlioai'ddetaehahly secured to the under side oi the key table, and meansconneeiiiig its duets respectively with the primary pneumiites, in-eombination with a rolls, and operating ,meeianism mounted thereon, thetriiekejehoard having its duets ltering' position rearward. lo a neatlithe ke),Y table.

duct-board, and. means for supporting' said tracker frame for movementfrom such regisposition under- A4. .ln an automatie square or g'i'andpiano, in roiiibination with the piano frame, a foundation board,pumpoi's, an exhaust liellou's and an exhaust air chamber mounted onsaid board, the latter having duels ioi'. comiiiuiiieation ol' thepumpers with the eX- haiist, bellows, and of the exhaust bellows withthe exhaust airy) ehaiiibei'; motor pneui'natirs mounted on the exhaustair chamber iii. position for collapsing b v upward movement of theirinoving'wal'ls, the piano frame being apei'tured inline transversevl tothe manual keys und er the rear ends of said keys,

and tracker pins or strikers connected with tl ro motor pneumaties,respectively, operai ing upward through such apertured'fianie upon theiiiaiiu'al'keys rearward 0i' their fiilerums.

5. ln an automatic square or grand piano, in combination with `the pianoframe, kejiactuating' mechanism mounted vupon the under side of thei'ear part of said freine eoinpi'ising' traeker pins or strikers foroperating upward against the under side of the .ni'a'nual keys andpneumatic operating mechanism therefor; a 'tracker-board, musicand'take-up vi'ollslend operating' mechanism anilfagrigid trame in Whiehsaid parts are iniiiinted; a

lduet board detaoliably mounted :on -@he under side of the 'forward partof the` piano frame, and connections from such duet board to thepneumatic operating mechanism, the said rigid 'trame boing' mounted onthe piano l'i'ame for iiioven'ient from a position hiru ard of themanual breast ol" the piano to a position underneath the key table, theti'aekoi' board having its duets registering with those oll the duetboard at said ioi'ii ard position.

6. l'n im :iiutomatie grand orsquare piano,

in eombiiiation with the piano l'raiiio a rigid frame eoniprisiug atrae-kei' board; i'iiusie and take-up rolls and operating mechaiiiisiiimounted on suoli trame; formend-al't slide- Ways on the under side oltthe piano frame,

and slides ,mounted for movement oi'e and ait therein; a pair of linkseonnoeting eaeli ol' said slides With said rigid tramo for move- `mentoi" said i'i'anio i'oiatively to the slides in a vertical l'oi'eend-alitcurved path; and ineens for looking the rigid frame at the up per limitoi suoli path.

7. ln an automatie grand piano, in oombiiiation with. thepedal-siiiiportingyh'arp and piano frame, Aautomatic playing' devicesmounted on the frame comprising a foundation hoard seeurei'l to theunder side of the haine reai'u'aidvoi the ped:il-supporting li'erp, theexhaust lielliiws looing mounted upon the upper side oiirsurh foundationboard between the frame inhers, and. the puinpers being' mounted on theunder side ol said foundation board.

8. In an automatic piano, in combination with the piano frame, afoundation board mounted. on the under side of said frame at the rearpart, an exhaust bellows mounted upon the upper side of said foundationboard in position for entering between the timbers of the piano frame;pumpers also mounted on said foundation board, and a pneumatic actioncomprising an exhaust chamber rigidly joined to said foundation board,said board having ducts for communication of the exhaust bellows withthe pumpers and with said exhaust chamber.

In an automatic grand piano,

port or harp and key table, a pneumatic action mounted upon the underside of such frame comprising 'motor pneumatics collapsing by upwardmovement of their moving walls,

and tracker pins or plungers connected with said moving walls foroperating upon the key, such tracker pins extending upward for encounterwith the manual keys under the rear ends ofthe latter an exhaust airchamber on which the motor pneumatics are mounted; primary pneumatieswithin such chamber 3 due-t boards having their ducts corinnunicatingsuccessively, the first under the primary pneumatic chamber having itsduct communicating with the primary pneumatics respectively, the secondin front of the motor pneumaties and their tracker pins and the thirdmounted under the key table, and a tracker board mounted forregistration of its (iluctswithv the forward end of the ducts in thelast-mentioned duct board.

' Y' lOx'f'In an automatic grand piano, in combination with the pianoframe and pedal sup port or harp, a pneumatic action mounted under theframe comprising an exhaust chamber pri mary pneumatics therein g motorpneumatics mounted on the forward side of said chamber; tracker pinsoperated by the motor pneumatics respectively extending upward forencounter with the under side of the manual keys respectively, suchtracker pins occupying a line transverse with respect to the manual keysback of the piano-pedal support or harp g duct boards having theircorresponding ducts communicating succsl in com-- bmation with the pianoframe and pedal supi port or harp, a pneumatic action mounted und er theframe comprising an exhaust chamber; primary pneumatica therein; motorpneumatics mounted on the forward sideof said chamber; tracker pinsoperated by the motor pneumatica respectively extending upward forencounter with the under side o the ,c manual pinsoccupyimr alinetransverse with respect to the manuai keys back of the piano-pedalsupport or har duct boids having their corresponding ucts communicatingsuccessively with each other, the first mounted at the under side of theexhaust chamber and having its ducts com municatin'g with the primarypneumatics res iectively, the second mounted in front of t 1e line ofthe tracker pins back of the harp, the third mounted under the key tableforward of the harp, and a.tracker board mounted for re istration of itsducts with the forward end o .the ducts of keys respectively, suchtracker the last-mentioned duct board, the ducts of the seeond-mentionedduet board being con-- verged from their lower ends in two groups towardthe upper ends with an interval between the grou s corresponding to theposition occupied y the harp, and means for connecting the ducts' of thethird duct board with those of the second.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence oftwo witnesses, at Chicago, Illinois, this 3d day of February, A. D.,190e,

MELVILLE CLARK.

In the presence of- J. S. ABBOTT, M. GERTRUDE AnY.

